Sports Agenda: Bell bids to cash in on new status

Ian Bell, the top run-scorer in Test cricketthis year, is the latest England player set tochange his management representatives in anattempt to maximise his earnings as part of theworld's No 1 ranked team.

Bell, fresh from his Test-best 235 at The Oval,has handed in his notice to Essentially, whosesports agency are part of Lord Tim Bell's ChimeCommunications group.

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Set to cash in: Ian Bell celebrates his double century

Bell has made the moveafter enjoying his best international summerand establishing himself as a crucial member ofthe England side.

He has yet to decide whichagent he will join, but is sure to have received advicefrom his England team-mates who are alsolooking to cash in on their new global statuswith fresh consultants.

Stuart Broad has returned to ChubbyChandler's ISM cricket stable run by NeilFairbrother while Jimmy Anderson is linking upwith his former Lancashire colleague LukeSutton, the Derby captain who will also behelping the England fast bowler with his countybenefit in 2012.

The merry-go-round of cricketpersonalities has also seen Freddie Flintoffdepart ISM to add to the celebrity broadcastingstable of Surrey chairman Richard Thompson'sMerlin Elite.

Merlin, who are behind BBC'sA Question of Sport going on tour, have plans totake Sky's A League of their Own, which hasFlintoff as one of the captains, on the road.

No laughing matter

Martin Bayfield's reportingduties ahead of ITV's RugbyWorld Cup coverage preventedhim from making his debut as astand-up comedian in thetoughest of environments at theEdinburgh Festival.

And Bayfield, one of sport's best after-dinnerspeakers, would have gone to Scotland armedwith plenty of new material from being RobbieColtrane's body double as Hagrid throughoutthe Harry Potter series which he is now free touse following the film release of the last book.

Clarke causes surprise

England Cricket Board chairman GilesClarke's recommendation that cricket's worldruling body send a representative team toPakistan to kick-start the return of internationalmatches being staged there has caused somesurprise at ICC's Dubai HQ.

Especially as Clarkeheads ICC's Pakistan task force that have yetto visit the troubled country themselves as agroup.

In addition Clarke has been advised byECB security experts not to travel to Pakistan.

It's just not cricket: Cameron told to change his shorts

Get it white, Dave!

David Cameron's visit to The Oval lastFriday, during which he sought out aspecial audience with India's premier cricketerSachin Tendulkar, was hassle-free compared tohis game of tennis at Queen's Club with his QCbarrister brother Alexander.

The PM, playingon an outside court away from the clubhouse,was still reported to the duty manager by amember for wearing black shorts when snootyQueen's has a strict all-white dress code fortennis.

A box full of alternative white shortswas sent out for Cameron to change into, withhis security guards carrying them on to thecourt after a lengthy discussion with clubofficials whether it was necessary to do so.

Backers in the dark

The England and Wales Cricket Board have yetto inform their England team backers Brit Insurancethat a fellow company from the same financialsector Investec are close to finalising a£4.5m-a-year agreement to take over fromnpower as their Test backers.

The ECB arerelaxed that there would be no conflict because ofthe differences between the firms' core businessesof insurance and asset management.

ButBrit are sure to have their concerns believingthere is some cross-over.

The Oval's new groundsponsors Kia may have their name plastered allover the ground, including five signs on the pavilion.

But even with the Kia Oval being less of amouthful then the previous Brit Insurance Oval,the BBC do not mention the sponsorship on airdespite requests to do so.

Out of form: But MS Dhoni is not out of pocket

Doh! Dhoni dough woe for sponsors

The abject performances of India captainMS Dhoni throughout the England series,especially his wicketkeeping, make somethingof a mockery of his status as the highest paidcricketer of all time with his earningsestimated at £25m a year.

The 27 companiesthat sponsor the World Cup winning skipper,who include Pepsi and Reebok, certainlyhaven't received their money's worth.